Eckerd Drops Plans For Site At Rt. 199

WILLIAMSBURG — Eckerd won't be setting up shop at the intersection of Route 199 and Jamestown Road, one of the landowners and a spokeswoman for the drugstore chain said Thursday.

The company had an option on the land that expired in December, said Phil Richardson of the Geddy Richardson Corp., which owns the land.

A Texaco station, the Backfin restaurant, now closed, and a group of shops now occupy the land. A wooded area along Jamestown Road and adjacent to the commercial properties is also owned by Richardson.

``At this time, we have made no plans for it,'' Richardson said. ``We are looking at various possibilities, but nothing right now.''

Tami Alderman, Eckerd spokeswoman, said the company was looking at the corner for a free-standing store but abandoned that idea in November. Eckerd already has a store in the Colony Square shopping center on Jamestown Road, about two blocks from the intersection.

``We're looking to grow in Williamsburg, but not in this particular site,'' she said.

Alderman did not specify the other possible locations. John Horne, James City County development manager, said the county hasn't had any inquiries from a drugstore. Reed Nester, city planning director, said he hasn't heard of any other possible locations in the city.

If Richardson and his partners do redevelop the property, any buildings would have to comply with city ordinances, Nester said. He said the buildings currently on the intersection's four corners are good examples of what would be allowed.

The 7-Eleven, Crestar bank, Texaco and McCardle Realty are "of residential scale and character,'' he said. ``You go from the intersection right into the houses along Jamestown Road.''

The city's zoning regulations allow tourist-centered businesses, which include service stations, retail shops, restaurants and offices, on the property. Building any of those would require review by the city staff, planning commission and architectural review board, but not approval from the City Council.

In the review process, Nester said, the city or its commissions can ask the developer to change the traffic pattern or the type of materials used for the building. If the plans don't meet with city approval, they can be turned down. However, most problems are usually worked out in the review process, Nester said.